Enjoy some tunes at the pool or a podcast in the tub with a water-resistent audio player

Japanese design powerhouse MUJI has released a new water-resistant speaker for your smartphone. Though this is an entirely new design, MUJI is far from a newcomer to the world of practical audio equipment. Back in 2000, Naoto Fukasawa designed the iconic wall mounted CD player, which is still a mainstay of MUJI’s collection. It has even found a home in MoMA’s permanent collection and last year spawned a similar Bluetooth speaker (which is sadly still only available in Japan).

But the speaker here is meant for anything but serenely blending into a living room wall, much like its more cumbersome predecessor, Muji’s now-discontinued waterproof speakers. A hearty plastic case with a cushioned insert keeps your smartphone safe, while the conductive transparent top gives you access to the touchscreen without having to remove your phone. You just plug the mini input plug into your phone’s headphone port, lock down the lid’s three buckles, and you’re good to go.

Predictably, the speakers themselves don’t compare with some of the more hi-fi portable options out there, but they do the job just fine whether you want to share some tunes with friends at the beach or listen to a podcast in the bath after a long day at work.

It’s worth noting that this is splash-proof, not fully waterproof, so dropping it into the pool is still a recipe for disaster. But perched safely on the deck you can hop out of the water, grab a beer, swap Sportify playlists, and not worry a bit.